The following steps will walk you through installing a virtual machine (VM) version of the new OpenESSENCE system for aggregate data collection. The VM contains a fully configured system, so that you can quickly start using OpenESSENCE without a lengthy installation process.

Download and install Virtual Box, which is a tool that you can use to easily stop and start VMs on your computer. Virtual Box is free to download, but you will need administrator privileges on your computer in order to install it. Access the download for Virtual Box from this link: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.

Tools

OpenESSENCE

OpenESSENCE is a multi-user network accessible analysis and visualization tool that enables an epidemiologist to monitor the population’s health from any computer connected to that network. Available analyses include demographic characterizations, temporal and spatial analyses, display of patient level information, geographic mapping, anomalous event detection, and dynamic query capability. Visualization features include: time series charts, pie/bar charts, crosstabs, tables, and choropleth maps.

A new version of OpenESSENCE is available. We would appreciate your feedback on this release at contactSAGES@jhuapl.edu.
Click here for downloading and installation instructions.Click here for OpenESSENCE Quick Start Guide.

SAGES Mobile

Android smartphones (or simple cell phones) can be used to send surveillance data to a central repository. A customized data entry form, built using Open Data Kit (ODK) Build, is loaded into an Android-based application called SAGES ODK-Collect, a JHU/APL tool which is a modified version of the popular open source ODK Collect Android phone application. SAGES ODK-Collect, in conjunction with the data entry form, enables the collection of surveillance data using a form-based interface on the Android smartphone, and the submission of that data over the SMS protocol.

ESSENCE Desktop Edition (EDE)

ESSENCE Desktop Edition (EDE) is a single-user stand-alone analysis and visualization tool that can be installed on most computers. It is designed to run independently on a single desktop or laptop computer. EDE does not need access to the internet because it ingests data files stored on the same computer. Available analyses include demographic characterizations, temporal and spatial analyses, display of patient level information, geographic mapping, anomalous event detection, and dynamic query capability. Visualization features include: time series charts, pie/bar charts, tables, and choropleth maps.